Home Schools University of Virginia Health & Physical Education
Parks, Recreation & Leisure · Health & Physical Education Rank #171 of 529

Health & Physical Educationat University of Virginia-Main Campus

Graduates earn $27,810/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Health & Physical Education average. Base-case 10-year earnings $771K; scenarios range from $694K to $772K depending on AI disruption.

Charlottesville, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
43 AVERAGE
44
Optimistic
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,810
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$771K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
28% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Virginia

The financial outcomes for Health and Physical Education/Fitness at a selective university like UVA often reflect the critical, but generally lower-paying, nature of these service-oriented professions. Many graduates find deeply rewarding careers as K-12 educators, community recreation leaders, or athletic trainers within public school systems, university athletics departments, or private wellness facilities across Virginia and beyond. Your UVA degree provides a rigorous academic foundation and access to an exceptional alumni network, which can be invaluable for securing those competitive roles and opening doors to leadership positions. To maximize your career trajectory and earning potential, consider pursuing complementary certifications, a minor in business or public health, or exploring graduate studies in specialized fields like physical therapy, sports management, or higher education administration.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$694K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple8.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$771K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$772K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Health & Physical Education graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
+7.7% 10-yr growth · 5,500 openings/yr
$77,180/yr
Moderate
2
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
+2.4% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$75,890/yr
High
3
Athletes and sports competitors
+5.5% 10-yr growth · 2,100 openings/yr
$62,360/yr
Low
4
Athletic trainers
+11.1% 10-yr growth · 2,400 openings/yr
$60,250/yr
Low
5
Exercise physiologists
+9.5% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$58,160/yr
Low
6
Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
+11.9% 10-yr growth · 74,200 openings/yr
$46,180/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Health & Physical Education

How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
American Public University System
WV · Private for-profit
60
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
15.4x
ROI
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
Simmons University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Lubbock Christian University
TX · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
WI · Public
53
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
12.8x
ROI
Also at University of Virginia

Other top programs at University of Virginia

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Health & Physical Education offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Health & Physical Education trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Health & Physical Education at University of Virginia

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Health & Physical Education at University of Virginia-Main Campus?

A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Health & Physical Education. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.